Is IT’S JUST LUNCH Dating Service a Scam?

110 thoughts on “Is IT’S JUST LUNCH Dating Service a Scam?”

• MIdwest (Michigan) CAN YOU SAY RIP OFF. DON’T DO IT AND RUN THE OTHER WAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  9/17/09 10:48 AM Initial call from Shan 954 990 1016. I was at work. Went to my voice mail.
  4:31PM Incoming call again from Shan. I was still at work. Went to my voice mail.
  Approx 7 PM. I returned the call. We talked at great length about the program and how it works. I asked if there was somewhere where I could get references or approvals. She said no. I told her I would think about it and get back with her. She said it doesn’t work that way. They don’t keep any of the information. The wipe it clean and we would have to start all over again. I asked if there was a satisfaction guarantee. She stated “no”. I asked if there was a cancellation policy. She stated “Yes, you have 3 days”. I said so if I want to cancel, I can call on Sunday”(being that we spoke on Thursday). She stated “no that I could call on Monday, since it was the weekend.”

  9/18/09 (next morning) Approx 11AM I called Shan to cancel. I changed my mind and decided I couldn’t afford the $500 she came down to (from $700-after talking to her manager). Shan informed me how disappointed and that it would take 3-5 weeks. I said that sounds crazy. I asked her to send me an email to confirm the cancellation. She said she would and would call me later in the afternoon with confirmation.
  2:02 PM I called her again to see if it was completed yet because I seen my bank statement and they took up $700 instead of the $500 agreed upon. I got her voice mail. And there was no follow up call in the afternoon to confirm cancellation, nor any email.
  5:05PM Called Shan, I got her voice mail.
  5:10 PM Called Shan, I got her voice mail.
  5:16 PM Called Shan, I got her voice mail.
  5:27 PM Called Shan, I got her voice mail.
  5:29 PM I called 800-335-8624 explained my situation to the operator and she transferred me to Shan’s voice mail.
  5:31 PM I called back and explained that Shan didn’t pick up and that I wanted to talk to a live person or a Manager. She stated there wasn’t one available and put me thru to Shan’s voice mail again.
  5:33 PM I called the same 800 # again. I was hung up on.
  5:34 PM I called the same 800# again. I was hung up on.
  5:35 PM I called with a block on my number and she said she would have a supervisor call me.
  5:36 PM I called with a block on my number and was hung up on.
  5:36 PM I called with a block on my number and was hung up on again.
  That was Friday.

  9/22/09 (Tuesday) Shan called and left me a voice mail. She processed the $200 refund

  9/23/09 8:26 AM Incoming call 248-421-6662 A woman to tell me she had a match for me. I explained that I cancelled. “Oh let me check into that”. I never heard back.

  9/25/09 9:05 AM Incoming call. Same scenario. “I have a match”. I said I just talked with you a couple days ago and told you I cancelled. Don’t you have notes in your computer.” Let me check”.

  9/29/09 11:58 AM I called Shan again 954-990-1016 No Answer. Left voice mail.
  12:26 PM I called Shan again. No answer. Left voice mail.

  10/06/09 Shan called to tell me that she was mistaken and there is no cancellation policy for Detroit area and that the $500 was a discount”. I said have your supervisor call me because you lied to me and told me there was a 3 day cancellation policy and you didn’t call me back and there was no email to confirm my cancellation”. She stated that she sent it. I said “well, forward it to me, send me proof that you sent it”. If I would have known that I would have never given you any money.” I’m not that spontaneous of a person. She said she would have her supervisor call me. No one called this day.

  10/08/09 Lynn called (704-332-6081). She asked me if I had spoke with Shan recently. I told her “yes and that she told me there was no cancellation policy for Detroit”. She stated that is correct”. I said “what is the cancellation policy for New York, Chicago?”. She stated she didn’t know, that is not her area”. I told her I wanted a refund. She stated “that there isn’t one”. I told her that “Shan shouldn’t have told me there was a 3 day cancellation policy if there wasn’t one”. I told her I want my money back. She said that doesn’t happen. I told her I wanted to talk with her Regional Manager. She said to send her an email (lynn.staples@ijlcorp.com) and she would escalate it, but that nothing will probably happen.

  I am tired of dealing with this fraudulent business. They are a scam and I am not happy they have my $700, which they told me was $500 and a 3 day cancellation policy, which I cancelled within 18 hours. I don’t have time to deal with this. I was working with my bank where the money was pulled out of my checking account, but they are still investigating. Please help me get my money back off of my debit card. This place is a scam that deceives people.

• It’s Just Lunch Atlanta introduced me to a guy they said was divorced. The guy said he was divorced. In reality, he had not even FILED for divorce. Details at http://thomasjohnbaudhuinacworthgeorgialied.blogspot.com/2009/11/thomas-john-baudhuin-of-acworth-georgia.html .

• It is a SCAM for sure but they don’t care. They just keep advertising and scamming people. I reported them to the BBB and tried to sue them for my money back. They have the SCAM down. Isn’t there anything we can do, collectively, do have our money returned from this unethical organization?

• I had a similar experience with IJL. However, I did get some assurances from the director at the time in writing of the types of guys I would be set up with. For those of you that have filed in small claims, what name did you use for the defendant? Since these are franchised, I don’t know if I should use the coporate name or the local. Any advise would be appriciated.

• So many complaints about It’s Just Lunch dating service. Has anyone had good luck with any of the professionals dating services or online dating services, singles services, or places like Match.com, LavaLife, eHarmony, PlentyofFish.com or other dating and singles sites?

  Are there good dating alternatives out there?

  
  

• I have sued the local company here in Seattle. I sued the LLC organization, and the Registered agent, Betty Sinclair. Betty signed a court mediated agreement to return my money by 9/20/09. To this day, I have not received any money. I now have a judgement and a civil case against it’s just lunch and Betty Sinclair.

• I had like most a very disappointing and horrible experience with It’s Just Lunch. I think they must pay people in government off. How else are they still in business. I don’t understand how a company with this many legitimate complaints is still in business. If anyone knows how to get a company shut down please let me know. This company is a fraud and takes advantage of people. The whole reason I signed up with this company is because I would spend hours searching threw online profiles to not find even one person I was interested in. It was time consuming and disappointing. This company claimed they had tons of men that fit what I was looking for. Sadly I found out that was not true. I thought I was paying this company to do the hours of research I got tired of doing myself. I was willing like most of you to pay big dollars to have someone else find me someone that I would actually like. The kind of service they provide you are better off just picking some random person off the street and asking them if they are single. And that is FREE!

• It’s Just Lunch is a complete rip-off. I was beyond disappointed after only 3 dates in 6 months and no contacts from my so-called matchmaker, Prina Chokron. I have no hope of ever recovering my $1000 and just wish to spread the word that of all the match-making agencies around, I made a huge and costly mistake selecting this one. Does anyone have any idea about how to even begin to try to get a refund from the IJL crooks in NYC?

• Christine:
  Your best bet in seeking a refund is probably the New York Attorney General’s office.

  Don’t worry… They are familiar with It’s Just Lunch, who they fined in 2007. See:
  http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/dating-franchise-its-just-lunch-fined-by-ny-attorney-general/

• I just had my first date/experience with It’s Just Lunch this past Monday. I’d cancel if I could… My first date was ridiculous and they paired me (I live in SC) with a man in Alabama.

  check out my blog post…

  http://nextonemancloser.wordpress.com/

• Thankfully I did not pay the ridiculous fees involved with this scam of a service, however I discovered that my boyfriend that I live with is a member of Its Just Lunch and has been going on 1 to 2 dates per month the entire length of our relationship. I called IJL to tell them we live together and that he is in what I thought was a serious relationship. They told me they were going to cancel his membership as when he signed their agreement, he was agreeing he was single. Now, a month later he is going on more dates. We are in a lease together for another year and he refuses to leave. He can not be on our lease by himself due to his credit situation so they will not take me off the lease. He coursed me into working things out after the first issue and I trusted him. It is my fault that I am in the situation that I am in, but I want the world to know that IJL is introducing men that they clearly know are in relationships to their other clients. I have read other horror stories from women who were introduced to married men. Great way to start something new. Beware IJL members!!

• well add me to the list..they told me that they had at least fifty women in my town available …..Its been a year and I havnt had my first date yet..no one within 125 miles… guess we just have to suck it up and learn by our mistakes..oh..lol I live in Ocala Fl and Im 53 years old for any eligble women lol

• FUCK IJL ! THEY STOLE MY $1000 !! SPEND YOUR MONEY ON HAVING DRINKS FOR YOUR FRIENDS . IT WORKS MORE !!

• It’s the biggest scam ever! I’ve been a mber since Feb. 2010, it is the end of Oct., I’ve not gone on one date!

• People get scammed because they don’t do enough research about the company they have in front of their eyes.

• I worked for It’s Just Lunch for a almost two years. When I first started working there they were everything they promised to be but then they sold out to an investment group and all they cared about is money. We were directly told to lie to the clients and promise them the world just to get them to sign on, and then we would hold meeting and training on how to handle the angered calls after the date. The company has all the employees on a number system – basically you are required to make a certain amount of dates per day or you were fired. They did not care how those dates were made as long as they were completeing what they saw as their end of the contracts- which was to set you out on dates. This meant that if you signed on for $2000 to meet a tall, white, jewish lawyer – you were set up with a short, muslim and unemployed man. We would then have to sat that there was a typo on his file but the date still counted agains you.
  needless to say I had to leave – I just could not stomach the lies anymore.
  I wish I could warn the world about this place – but to those who are still dealing with them -Good Luck!

• This is a scam, for every success story there are many more failures. They are better at telling you how the legal system works than they are at the matchmaking business. Local franchises insulate the corporate owners. They have no contract with any of the clients, so they get a portion of each fee and have no exposure. They will not help. And the local franchisee is set up in a dummy corporation, that has no assets. This was devised to make sure no one could get their money back. And they did not have to really do anything they promised. Stay away. The chances are not good that you will even go on a date let alone meet anyone you might be interested in.

• I HATE IT’S JUST LUNCH. They are nothing but a rip off and I honestly dont know how it is possible that these people can scam us our of our money and get away with it.

  Betty Sinclair , Lisa Purdum , Sara Darling you should be ashamed of yourselves for doing what you are doing to innocent women.

  If you truly believed in your product, you would gladly refund the money you have taken but you dont.

  Why do we have to learn from our mistakes…why to they get to succeed off of victims. We live in the US. Someone should get these scam artists to return the money they have stolen from people.
  I can easily do the same thing they are and just search eharmoney for matches….

• I am having the exact same experience except they aren’t even able to find me a date AND they charged me $2800, not $1800. Consider yourself lucky there. I am furious. They are rude, condescending and extremely deceitful.

  I actually signed up through a company called Matchbox in Petaluma. When I did a Google search it was fine. I signed the contract for Its Just Lunch not realizing it was a bait and switch. I can understand why they are hiding their name. Had I known the real name and been able to search first I would have NEVER signed up.

  They make a lot of promises. All Lies. Save your money girls and boys. This is a scam, scam, scam.

• I joined Its Just Lunch, Kansas City, back in 2003. I think I paid around $1,500 for 12 months or 12 dates, whichever came first. I was a busy single middle-age man, and I had little time and tolerance for the dating scene, especially the tough Kansas City singles scene (cliques and locals. Not much tolerance for transplants like me). Like most every complaint posted here, my experiences were similar and negative. Here’s a sample.
  .I told them I wanted to meet women from 5-15 years my junior. For the most part, they actually came through on this criteria; however, the final date they attempted to set me up on was with a woman 5 years my senior. From their description, she sounded like a tree hugging new age hippie type. I had absolutely nothing in common and refused to meet her. They became abusive and confrontational, but not one to be intimidated or pushed into a corner by the likes of Its Just Lunch, I stood my ground and refused. End of discussion.
  .I told them I refused to meet and date “single mothers”. Again, for the most part they honored this criteria, but towards the end, they began sneeking in single mothers. One woman told me that Its Just Lunch instructed her not to mention that she was a single mother of 2 small children. When I confronted Its Just Lunch about this on the follow telephone call they placed with me, they flat out denied it.
  .The various “little white lies”. Examples- they frequently told me my dates were active (e.g. worked out, were athletic, etc.), but when I met them they were obese, inactive, and coach potatoes. Further, they told me my dates were “professionals” and had at least Bachelor Degrees, but many were not.
  Still yet, they told me my dates had certain hobbies and interests (e.g. skiing, movies, food, wine, music, etc.). But my dates told me they had no such interests.
  I think dating services in general are scams. I honestly don’t know how to meet people to date, and frankly, an evening with a good glass of wine, my beloved dogs, and a good DVD is alot more appealing to me today than most single women out there. Anything more, call the escort service.

• I am a 60 year old woman who has tired two contracts with It’s Just Lunch Seattle. The second experince was worse tha the first. You would think after the first go around that they would know me. I made two simple requests: one that the man be dad and two that he live in the Seattle area. One time they matched me up with a man from a different fatiht who acknowledged to me upon meeting that he could not marry out this faith and that it would be even diificult to be in relationship with woman outside his faith. This was a waste of both of our times. I was repeatedly matched with men who lived in Tacoma and even further away when I specifically asked for the Seattle Bellevue area. They ask for feedback but do little with it. I told them I was in no rush as I know it’s hard to match with people my age. It would have behooved them to refund a portion of my money if they did have appropriate matches. They give very little information about he matches before you meet. This person could be anyone. Please be very cautious here. I do not ercommendation this service to women in paricular in my age range.

• Its just lunch, more like its just a rip off !! I found out from one of my “dates” that there are a number of the girls sent out on dates who are employed by the company !

  They promised me 9 dates, I only got 4, then I heard nothing from ILJ for 6 months! When they finally contacted me again, it was from a number in Florida, I asked for a 50% refund of my 400 euros, as they hadn’t provided me with the service I had paid for, I figured this was a fair enough request. They refused any kind of refund, their office in Dublin has now closed and I believe from the consumer rights organisation it will be difficult to take a case against a company based in the US. Very frustrating !!

  Dublin Ireland.

• Reading these comments is encouraging and discouraging at the same time. I spent $3,000 in San Francisco and tried immediately to get my money back. NOT ONE of the dates was appropriate for me – not even CLOSE. The best magic these people apparently have is the magic of selling and then not fulfilling on any of their promises. I wish I had NEVER contacted them and had done my due diligence first by reading here. This organization, in my experience, is the worst scam I have EVER encountered. If there’s a class action lawsuit, I will definitely participate.

• Count me in on the class action! Only in Sacramento they are now called California Singles, formerly eLove and already starting a new name change of California Professional Singles, I believe. They do a great bait and switch routine. Someone needs to stop them from making false verbal promises.

• Count me in! They said “Just give it a try and then we’ll go from there. But to get started we need your $2,700.” Went on my first BLIND date (ridiculous) and nothing like it was billed. Tried to get 9/10 of my money back after the first date and as the story above goes….I’m calling a lawyer.

• Signed up with the company with a woman who told me she would fix me up with this great guy at the start. She told me this to get me to sign up as after they took my $900 Scott miracously went on hold! Hello! they also told me if I signed up the day after the next day, it would be $1,000 to pressure me into biting the bait. They sent me 3 bad dates one of whom lived more than 75 miles away from me and the other two 150 miles away! This is not a minor thing, folks! These people will say and do what they want to get your money! I asked for a refund and their answer was that they would fix me up with one more dates. Fool me once shame on you…fool me 3x, shame on me! I wouldn’t let them get the chance. I am asking all people who have been wronged by them to please sign my petition and get in touch with the Federal Trade Commission as soon as possible filing a complaint and then telling your congresswoman or man that you did this. They will take it from there! Here is where you sign the petition. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/459/773/059/stop-matchmaking-services-from-ripping-people-off/

• I paid 2100 to IJL Seattle, then immediately regretted it and asked to cancel (not having gone on any dates) they refused to cancel or refund any money.

  Bad people, bad business….

• I am currently in a dispute with this terrible company.

• If anyone has any advice, i’d sure like to hear it.

• I am appalled at how awful this company is. How it has stayed in business this long is amazing to me. First, they baited and switched me. Said they had men who would fit my description. One was no closer to my needs than the next. Then, I had a terrible reversal of fortune. Lost job, illness…just asked to be let out of my contract..not for a refund. Just allow me to stop paying. Of course they said no. They are making choose them over paying health insurance. This is a HEARTLESS-HORRIBLE COMPANY. PLEASE DO NOT JOIN!!!!!!

• Usually I am not one to complain. I like to focus on the positive and give credit where credit is due. Unfortunately the issues that I have been having with this company is forcing me to do so. I am also not alone in this as there’s over 20 negative reviews on Yelp that say how deplorable the company is and that a majority of the folks have had a similar experience to mine.

  I signed up for the “elite dating service” It’s Just Lunch when I first moved to New York City in 2007. They failed to provide me with any semblance of a match nor listened to a single thing I said when I told them I was looking for. I was stood up more than once and the one date I actually DID go on was exactly opposite as to what I was looking for. They also failed to provide me with single lunch date, which I requested, due to the fact that I live outside NYC.

  I shouldn’t have renewed my contact with them this past December, but I thought maybe things with the company may have improved and my mother’s desire to see me with a gentleman urged me to give them a try. They sold me with no doubt two men that didn’t exist. I should have known they were too good to be true when they said “his family owns property on lots of different islands in the Caribbean” and they had similar interests. But I signed up anyway. I gave them my availability and informed them I was going away for a week in January and will be out of town.

  When I signed up they said I would work with only one dating consultant the entire time. While I was on vacation with my family, a time I value as they live abroad, a random consultant I had not dealt with ever frantically called and emailed me asking for my availability. I was aghast that there was no communication within their team nor had on file that I was out of the country. I was even more unhappy that they ruined my vacation. When I asked the rep to stop contacting me and that I was on vacation with my family, he was very rude and emailed me back and continued to try to contact me.

  Once I got back to the US the original rep asked me for my availability. I distinctly gave her my dates available and dates unavailable and mentioned lunch dates were better. What do they do? Schedule me when I was UNavailable and during an evening time. At this point I had enough of their incompetence and asked for a refund. They did not contact me for a couple weeks. When they did try to contact me it was to try to reschedule me for the date. That is not what I asked.

  I continued to try to get a refund of $900 from this company, and continually they refused to do so. I asked repeatedly to communicate via email so I may have documentation on our conversations and the fact that I am often unavailable on the phone. They refused to communicate with me via email despite repeated attempts. They continue to try to schedule me for a date. I am now over 2mths of membership and they have failed to provide me with a match or any semblance of being a reputable business. As per their contract I can ask for a refund and get it. But they still refuse to do so.

  I am at my wit’s end dealing with this company. I very much would like my refund as I cannot afford to throw away $900. It’s also the principle of the matter. They failed to provide a service. I also would like to warn as many other women and men that come to NYC wishing for love NOT to deal with this company.

• This is a classic bait and switch which is illegal!!!!!!

  They promise you one thing….then they get your money and then start trying to convince you why what you wanted is not correct. And what they want you to want is what they have to offer. This franchise needs to be shut down.

  We have called the corporate office and talked with “Lisa” and she basically laughed at concerns.

  Here is the corporate number… (760) 779-0101…. try calling and see if you have better luck.

• This is interesting. I was going to sign up with this company, but I got suspicious when they said that they needed either my driving licence number or my passport number. I couldn’t understand why they would need that, and worried that they were planning to steal my identity.

  After doing a few Google searches, I found all these negative comments about them. They may not be criminals, but it seems that they don’t deserve my money.

• Thank you for posting that link ADMIN or Christine. I will repost that in every board I can find. With enough complaints I believe they wil be sued again and consumers will get their money back.

  Your best bet in seeking a refund is probably the New York Attorney General’s office.

  Don’t worry… They are familiar with It’s Just Lunch, who they sued in 2007. See:
  http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/dating-franchise-its-just-lunch-fined-by-ny-attorney-general/

• When you complaint about It’s just Lunch make sure to include the name of its ringleader : Melissa Brown in San Diego, CA. That woman had no previous business experiences, as documented in her own LinkedIn profile. She started this scam business by preying on lonely heart people or people who have just broken up with someone and are hurting. By promising them the moon then failing to deliver. Unfortunately this scam worked in the short term and she got investment to branch into a franchise. But like any other inexperienced business person she didn’t realize that the long term effect of a scam can be detrimental.

  Since the concept of the business and the model is clearly her idea she should be held responsible for every unethical act that takes place within any franchise.

  I read about the lawsuit with the Attorney General too late. I had already given my credit card which was misused instantly and I never got a refund. However there is hope. I have filed my complaint with the Attorney General and with enough comlaints they will take action. Just like they did in 2007.

  Here are the most common complaints with this scam operation.

  They mislead you into believing that they have an incredible database of suitable matches then they fail to deliver as soon as they get your money. Overpromise and zero delivery. They never give you truthful facts about your match, no picture, nothing. They lie blatantly to get you to the date. You waste your time getting ready, traveling to the spot and waiting with high hopes. When you arrive at the restaurant you find out they have deceived you. The match is not only physically different than what they promised, after a brief conversation you find out they are not even what was claimed, professionally, marital status wise, geographical location wise, nothing. After this gross misrepresentation they still count it as a date they matched you up with. For example if they promise you one date per month and deceive you into meeting someone who is not a match, they will still claim that they did their job and thats it. Too bad that they lied about everything and misled you into going on that date. For example they will tell you that the man you will be meeting is tall, in good shape, single, a lawyer and lives within your geographical preference. After you meet the man you will find out that he is short, fat, still married, part time employed, lives out of state, just visiting.

  When you complaint about your nightmare situation they will say oh well we did match you up so you got one date that you paid for. Seriously you could get more of a match if you walked into a random bar or cafe. So how do these people justify their fee ? There is no justification. Its just lying, misrepresentation and stealing your money for services not provided as represented.

  Why is this operation still in business despite the fraud they are perpetuating? Good question. It shows you that most people don’t file complaints. People are busy and just move on rather than argue with these bunch of scammers.

  Let’s change this trend. Consumers, rise up and complain. File your complain in the proper channel and you will get your vindication. You will get a refund. There is no reason why so many people should be victimized. I pray that this business goes out of business as it should within this year. Amen.

• This is the biggest scam out there. They take your money and then never call. They are rude, arrogant and basically just laugh at you when you ask for your money back. I do not believe they have anyone to fix you up with. I am thinkng of taking this to dateline NBC.

• Appreciate the insight regarding this company. I had a job interview with a regional manager, she glossed over the negative reviews. I’m scheduled to meet with her manager, and wanted to do some research — and came across this site. Although wanting a career switch, and it sounds like a fun, well-paying position – these comments make me wonder. Does anyone have anything nice to say about this company? Any other comments greatly appreciated.

• I joined IJL on the recommendation of a friend. I paid over 2 grand and like everyone else here was promised the moon. It is a bait and switch. You talk to someone who appears to be a matchmaker then you never see or hear from that person. Instead you get these flighty airhead bimbos that push you to go on dates. I got plenty of dates but all were terribly mismatched and nearly all outside my age range. At first it was ok but then they would keep calling me to go on more dates. When my allotted number was up they started the relentless calling to get me to re join. They are like the moonies or scientologists. There is no escape. They do not stop calling. I have asked several times to be on the no call list. There latest tactic is to have a bimbo call and say something like hey it’s Cindy I forgot about our meeting so call me call me! Lately I get 2 or more calls a week. They rotate numbers but I screen all my calls. These poor gals should think of a better way to make a living than this. But it’s a bad economy. If I could do it again, I would never join. These people are phonies out to push their unethical scam.

• Wow. I have a chance to see what people wrote on here and Wow. It sounds like most of you would have had a better chance of walking into some random bar and met some better matches. I have to be honest some of you woman on here sound like great people and there are a lot of great men that would love to meet you including myself. Companys like this should be shut down because it is fraud.

• After my hour “interview” over the phone, which included descriptions of eligible men in my area, we got to the crux of the matter – $2,300 for a year’s membership up front with a guarantee of five dates. I was incredulous that she could say that without laughing but it was not a joke. I explained that as woman in business, that sounded like a really bad deal. I can’t imagine who would sign up for that. I wasted an hour I can’t get back but at least I am not out any money. I can think of a lot of other things I can do with $2300.

• I joined in May and only got one phone call for a date. At the last minute, they called me and told me that my date prospect had to cancel. I have not heard from them since. I’ve been bamboozled. The Raleigh has closed but they not did not mention this to me. I was fooled by this website http://www.consumeraffairs.com/dating_services/just_lunch.html . Apparently many of the good reviews are phony.

• My sister worked for the corporate office in Florida about a year ago. AWFUL! If the members only knew what these so called “dating directors” looked like, they would not fork over one cent. These employees who run the office and manage the client relationships (the members) are bottom-of-the-barrel people who work for 12.00 an hour. They have NO official dating talent/experience other than their own lives. They are all between age 28 and 32 (or younger) with a few 50+ thrown in. They all look like they rolled out of bed. They are lowlife, minimum wage rednecks. Total ripoff this company is. My sister finally quit after being told to lie to the members in order to make their quotos. STAY AWAY.

• Run! Do not join this service! It is a waste of money. I was scheduled for several different dates. I paid over $1000 and never went on one date. I was canceled on 3 different times. There was no follow up with the company until I asked for a refund of my money. On one instance a date was scheduled. I showed up and the restaurant was closed. The company makes their reservations for the dates through open table. I tried making a reservation for the restaurant through open table and could not make one for that restaurant. I do not believe they ever made a reservation at that location. I felt like I was scammed out of my money. I have spoken to 4 different people at the company and been scheduled dates by 2. Two of the people were nice, the other 2 were incompetent. One person was down right rude when I complained about the lack of service. I usually do not write complaints or rate services, but I am hoping to save someone from the ordeal that I went through. Most of the people I dealt with at the company were not local, they were from Florida. No wonder they sent me to a closed restaurant. There is no personalized service or corporate integrity!

• I believe this is “Great Expectations dating” going under a different name. There are already so many lawsuits out there and don’t feel like our government is doing much to assist. Since our privacy is slowly being taken away there are less options and safeguards for consumers. I’m discusted, but if anyone want to file a class action suit against GE going under the names of Seattle Singles and Its Just Lunch Lemme know.

• Its Just Lunch is a scam, I completely agree with the bikini model. I work with a consumer advocacy group in San Francisco and we have been contacted several times by Its Just Lunch clients who have paid and received nothing close to what was promised.

  I suggest to the bikini model to dispute the charge with your credit card company. IJL will tell you that they will turn you over to collections however you can then, again, dispute the charge and you will eventually win.

  I have just sent an email to 60 minutes news team about IJL as this kind of story is just what they look for..especially the part about taking advantage of women. Yesterday, the NYTimes did an editorial entitled “Skip lunch: She’s going to court”. That details more of what IJL does–avoid this service at all cost.

• Legal action will likely be fruitless as others above have noted. However, I have found that these fraudulent companies are more afraid of bad publicity than any legal action. They typically have attorneys who have helped with legal language that you are aware of the inherent risk, etc.

  I would recommend calling the problem solvers or other similar TV news groups in each local market and start forcing them to address the concerns. I suspect they may not change their ways, but there will be some refunds issued to minimize the damage.

• I worked at the corporate office in Hallandale, Florida and quit within days. I am baffled that this company is still in business.

  I am currently in contact with channel 7 here in Miami, so hopefully, I can help to expose this horrible racket. Melissa Brown and the women she employs to run this office are uneducated, low life trash who have NO business acumen. The employees who are called Dating Directors are between the age of 25 and 30 with very little experience.

  Debbie, the senior dating director, is a bitter, nasty, hostile woman in her 60’s, so don’t be fooled by what these horrible people tell you on the phone. They are all looking at your photos and trashing you and complaining about you. If you piss them off by calling in and complaining, some of them will deliberately match you up with someone they know is not a good match for you. It is their way of getting back at you, the customer.

  I saw it happen all day for the 4 days I was there. It is nothing but a big telemarketing room filled with people who are at the bottom of the employment barrel. The managers in the office are so pathetic and are completely unprofessional. This particular office is HR no compliant. Sexual harassment and hostile work environment is a daily thing and none of it is ever addressed.

  I hope this company fails miserably and the thousands of people they have ripped off see some sort of justice. Shame on Melissa Brown and every manager at this office who know damn well that what you all are doing is so wrong.

• I joined in early June 2013 and have had 2 dates both over an hour away. I was told they had plenty of women for me to meet so where are they. I have had 5 different dating directors all who have lied to me. Corporate managers will do nothing so I am pursuing this thru legal means and the media.

• It’s Just Lunch in New York City is big scam! I had one date set up in three months for the thousand dollars I paid and even that showed that the three “dating directors” I talked to have never listened to what I was asking for… I wish I had read this blog before signing up with them…

• I have never written a review (good or bad) in my life but I am so frustrated, angry and embarrassed that I fell for this scam that I want to do anything that I can to try to prevent someone else from doing the same thing.

  DON”T FALL FOR IT!! IJL is nothing but a scam.

  There is nothing personal about the “services” that they supposedly provide. The few emails that I received were templates with my name plucked into it. I am in the Philly area and based on the other comments, clearly they operate the same way in every city. Lisa clearly has no interest in doing anything but collecting a paycheck.

  I was stood up on the first two “dates” that they set up for me. The two dates that they did set up and the men did actually exist, had already realized that IJL was a scam and were so disappointed that they only showed up to feel like they were somehow getting their monies worth. However, as soon as you realize that you live miles and miles apart and have nothing in commen, you just make the best of it by hoping that you like the food and drinks.

  I hope they go out of business VERY, VERY soon and I will do anything that I can to prevent even one person from making the huge mistake that I made.